Updated July 2025
The World Bank Group is committed to helping countries deliver quality, affordable health services to their people, including by supporting private healthcare. Over the past few months, IFC has engaged with clients to better understand incidents raised related to patient safety and protection at their hospitals, and to help them take corrective action as needed. The incidents that have been reported are difficult and at times heartbreaking. We recognized that we needed to do better, and we have identified areas to improve our own oversight and supervision.
IFC is strengthening the assessment and supervision of health services investments. We have enhanced our appraisal and supervision processes, including by adding specific quality and ethical assessment tools that we use. We also are reviewing our health services portfolio to better identify risks related to patient safety and other ethical concerns and, when needed, help companies put in place necessary safeguards. For new investments in private equity funds that have a health services component, we now are proactively engaging with the Funds Managers to assess and support the oversight of ethical and governance issues in their health service investments.
Our clients’ commitment and ability to adhere to ethical principles and practices is a critical factor in IFC’s decision-making regarding our health services investments. As previously announced, IFC will not work with new clients who do not commit to – and follow – our standards, and ethical principles and practices for patient care.
More information on the World Bank Group’s approach to private healthcare and IFC’s due diligence practices can be found here.